<TABLE> <S> <C>




<ARTICLE>         UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE TAMPA 
ELECTRIC COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS, STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND STATEMENTS OF CASH 
FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                             0000096271
<NAME>                                Tampa Electric Company
<MULTIPLIER>                                            1000
       
<S>                                                  <C>        
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                    JAN-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                     SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          9-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                          2,287,761
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                            1,048
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                               222,097
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             215,556
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     2,726,462
<COMMON>                                             118,921
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            816,598
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                  210,351
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                     1,145,870
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                           19,960
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 586,042
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                         0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       113,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          1,045
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       860,045
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                      2,726,462
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            838,278
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                  55,093
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           652,567
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           707,660
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                              130,618
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                    16,087
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       146,705
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              33,713
<NET-INCOME>                                         112,992
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                            1,547
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        111,445
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                              87,892
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                             29,297
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                               245,552

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                              0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              0
        <PAGE>


</TABLE>